A Case of Rheumatoid Pneumoconiosis Presenting with Pleuritis and Pericarditis.
10.3904/kjm.2013.84.3.428
- Author:
Myung Soo PARK
1
;
Dae Gil KANG
;
Eun Ju JUNG
;
Ki Jong OH
;
Jong Seop SIM
;
Eun Jung KIM
;
Changhwan KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. masque@hallym.or.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Caplan's syndrome;
Silicosis;
Serositis
- MeSH:
Arthritis;
Arthritis, Rheumatoid;
Caplan Syndrome;
Dyspnea;
Echocardiography;
Fibrosis;
Humans;
Joints;
Pericardial Effusion;
Pericarditis;
Pleural Effusion;
Pleurisy;
Pneumoconiosis;
Rheumatic Fever;
Serositis;
Silicosis;
Thorax
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2013;84(3):428-432
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Caplan's syndrome is characterized by multiple small distinct nodules with progressive massive fibrosis and rheumatic arthritis in pneumoconiosis. Although pleural effusions occur infrequently as an extra-articular manifestation, pleuritis can develop without joint involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We treated an 81-year-old man who had been diagnosed with silicosis with progressive massive fibrosis. He suffered from progressive dyspnea, and chest computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography revealed pleural and pericardial effusions. We speculated that the multiple serositis was related to a rheumatic disorder because the rheumatic factor was elevated in both the pleural and pericardial effusions. After corticosteroid treatment, the serositis improved. We suggest that this case is an atypical pattern of Caplan's syndrome presenting as serositis without arthritis. Rheumatoid serositis should be considered as the cause of pleural or pericardial effusions in patients with pneumoconiosis.
